Not much was working for Florida State’s fourth-seeded softball team in Game 2 of the Tallahassee Super Regional.

The Seminoles were held hitless through six innings, and a critical throwing error by the typically-consistent Jessica Warren in the bottom of the third led to what ended up being the only score LSU needed to force a decisive Game 3 here at JoAnne Graf Field.

The Tigers rode a one-hit gem from junior righty Allie Walljapser (W, 17-5) and shut out the Seminoles 1-0 in front of a crowd of 1,527 – though a large, vocal section of the crowd was wearing LSU purple and gold. Walljasper pitched seven complete innings and walked two while striking out four.

FSU’s Alex Powers drops a pop-up, that was later called a foul ball, against LSU during the Tigers 1-0 win, tying the three game Super Regional series at JoAnne Graf Field on Saturday.
Joe Rondone/Democrat

FSU’s Meghan King talks to her teammates after being struck in the ear by an LSU hit during the Tigers 1-0 win, tying the three game Super Regional series at JoAnne Graf Field on Saturday.
Joe Rondone/Democrat

FSU’s Sydney Broderick signals back to her teammates after getting the Seminoles only hit of the game against LSU during the Tigers 1-0 win, tying the three game Super Regional series at JoAnne Graf Field on Saturday.
Joe Rondone/Democrat

“I was just thinking one pitch at a time going up there,” Walljasper said. “Really, just focusing on getting the next out. I wasn’t worried about the no-hitter or anything. I just wanted to get the win for my team.”

FSU and LSU will play a winner-take-all third game at 1 p.m. on Sunday. The winner of that game goes to the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City.

FSU head coach Lonni Alameda and the Seminoles came into the postgame press conference smiling, despite the loss. She said moments like Sunday's elimination game are what Florida State’s been prepping for all year.

“There’s no reason to be upset about it,” Alameda said. “It’s not about wins and losses, it’s about how you play the game. We were present, we were getting after it, we want to be that way again tomorrow. If we sulk in our Cheerios, it’s going to do nothing for us tomorrow.

“The past is the past and now we’re ready to go.”

LSU’s Allie Walljasper gives up just one hit in the Tigers 1-0 win over FSU, tying the three game Super Regional series at JoAnne Graf Field on Saturday.(Photo: Joe Rondone/Democrat)

Sunday’s loss was the first time all season the Seminoles have lost at JoAnne Graf Field.

“We just met as a team and we’re excited for it,” Alameda said about today’s game. “This is what we’ve wanted all season. You don’t want a cupcake game. You want a get-after-it game. That’s what it’s going to be like when you roll into Oklahoma City, too. We’ve trained for it. We want this.

“I’m completely excited about it. (Sunday’s) game could have gone either way, honestly. People will say, ‘Aw, you had a no-hitter,’ but it’s literally one swing of the bat. That’s what so exciting about everyone coming to the plate. I expect that same mentality tomorrow.”

Redshirt sophomore Meghan King (L, 27-3) took the loss for FSU, despite giving up four hits and not allowing an earned run. She showed grit in the loss – at one point she took a line drive to the head and came back to pitch a 1-2-3 sixth inning.

The bottom of the third inning proved to be the difference for the Tigers. King walked Sydney Springfield to start the inning, then Amber Serrett got a bunt down. Warren came up to make a play, but her errant throw went off an umpire, allowing LSU’s runners to advance to second and third.

FSU’s Meghan King pitches against LSU during the Tigers 1-0 win, tying the three game Super Regional series at JoAnne Graf Field on Saturday.(Photo: Joe Rondone/Democrat)

The third could have been much worse for Florida State. The Tigers managed to load the bases with no outs. With first baseman Amanda Doyle at the plate, LSU seem poised to put a few more runs on the board.

Doyle had two balls that went just barely into foul territory – both would have been multi-RBI hits.

King pitched her way out of the jam.

“I feel like I’ve been in those situations before,” King said. “I knew one pitch could have gotten me out of it. The whole time I was thinking, ‘Execute this pitch and good things will fall into place.’”

This is the second season in a row LSU has bounced back from a loss in Game 1 of a Super Regional to take Game 2. Last season, the Tigers lost to James Madison in the first game of the Harrisonburg (Va.) Super Regional and ended up making it to the WCWS.

“It’s not a spot we like to be in, but it appears to be a spot we can be successful in,” LSU head coach Beth Torina said. “Our team handles this spot well. I don’t know the reasons why, really, but we got a lot of huge performances here today.”